Hello, I am Melanie Banton, though absolutely everyone around here just calls me Mel. If you had told me a few years ago that I would be the proud owner of Sunflorist & Events, I would have told you straight to your face that you were having a laugh.

South East London Roots & 20 Years as a Support Worker

I’m a South East London girl through and through. I grew up around the busy streets of Plumstead and Woolwich, and my professional background is about as far removed from arranging delicate bouquets as you can possibly get.

I spent nearly twenty solid years in the housing sector, working tirelessly as a support worker. I regularly pulled exhausting eighteen-hour shifts. It was relentless work, demanding immense resilience. But that environment taught me absolutely everything I know today about people, compassion, and the true meaning of community. In housing, you are the social worker, the police, the ambulance; you are everything.

Before I even touched a commercial bouquet or entertained the wild thought of owning Sunflorist & Events, my entire life was dedicated to social care. Working in housing means you truly see it all. You see people at their lowest points, and you witness the daily struggles that so many individuals face. Those long hours were heavy, but fundamentally grounding. I learned how to actively listen, how to hold a safe space for someone who is deeply struggling, and how to remain a strong pillar of support when situations get incredibly complicated.

Those days tested my limits, but they also showed me the raw, unfiltered side of human nature. Dealing sensitively with vulnerable people and their trauma naturally transpires into what I do today.

From the Stage to the Shop Floor

Alongside that highly demanding career, my creative side has always been burning bright in the background. Many years ago, I was actually a resident dancer at the famous Hackney Empire with my dance group, Elegance. Dance was my ultimate escape. It was the way I expressed myself when words were simply not quite enough, and I always thought I belonged on the stage.

Today, I use that exact same creative spark when designing floral arrangements for Sunflorist & Events. It is just a slightly different kind of choreography. Instead of working with music and physical movement across a stage, I am working with vibrant colours, natural textures, and fresh foliage.

An Accidental Leap into the Unknown

Stepping into the floristry business was completely and utterly unplanned. It was a proper, accidental leap into the great unknown. The journey started simply when my mum visited a local florist shop. While chatting, the owner mentioned offhand that he was actively looking to sell the business. When she came home and told me, I honestly didn’t think much of it at first. I told her I knew nothing about floristry, and the very idea of commercial business management felt like a foreign language to me. But my partner, Andrew, saw something in me that I didn’t initially see in myself. He strongly encouraged me to explore the opportunity, telling me to “just go and speak to the man and see what he is saying”.

With his unwavering support pushing me forward, I boldly struck a deal with the previous owner. I told him I’d take the massive leap, provided he matched my support worker salary. That way, I could safely quit my exhausting job in housing and learn the intricate trade right there on the shop floor.

Sharp Thorns and Fresh Starts

Of course, real life rarely gives you a completely smooth ride. The transition into owning Sunflorist & Events came with its fair share of sharp thorns. After making that initial deal and working for six months, I had a severe falling out with the previous owner. Suddenly, the grand plan fell apart right in front of me.

I found myself having to temporarily return to my demanding role as a support worker for another six months. Going back to those gruelling eighteen-hour shifts after getting a sweet taste of my own creative business was incredibly tough to swallow. It deeply tested my patience and my overall resolve. But I kept my head down, worked hard, and waited patiently for the solicitors to finally sort out all the complicated paperwork.

When I finally took the keys, I had to teach myself absolutely everything from scratch. I learned how to run the business from the ground up, figuring out the paperwork and the suppliers on my own. Slowly but surely, I built a reliable team. I spent countless hours training my staff until they were confident and skilled enough to manage the busy shop floor entirely on their own. This gave me the vital freedom to step out, network, and grow the business to the next level.

Loyalty, Compassion, and Trust

Running Sunflorist & Events is built entirely on three core, non-negotiable values: loyalty, compassion, and trust. Those twenty years I spent in housing were definitely not wasted. They gave me a remarkably deep sense of empathy. I regularly work with vulnerable customers, especially local families who are searching for funeral flowers near me to plan a respectful farewell for their loved ones.

Because of my extensive background in care, I know exactly how to sit with them, listen to their personal stories, and help them choose beautiful tributes. It is so much more than just selling flowers. It is about providing genuine comfort during their darkest days. When it is somebody’s last day, those flowers need to be absolutely on point.

I want absolutely everyone who walks through my doors to feel completely comfortable, fully supported, and entirely at home. It is particularly important to me that my primary audience, especially the Black community, feels truly seen and warmly welcomed here. I want Sunflorist & Events to be a safe community space where people know they will always be treated like family.

I firmly believe that flowers have a magical way of bringing joy, peace, love, and immense happiness to people’s lives. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, surrounding yourself with fresh blooms significantly improves your mental wellbeing, and it is a thoughtful way of showing someone you care without always having to find the perfect words. Whether you need reliable flower delivery London wide, or just a simple bunch to say you care, flowers always speak a universal language.

Join Our South East London Community

We have built a genuinely beautiful community here in South East London, and I would absolutely love for you to be a part of it. If you are local, please do drop by our SE6 shop to meet me and the fantastic team in person. We are always up for a friendly chat. To stay updated with all the fun, behind-the-scenes action and to see my creative process in real time, make sure you follow Sunflorist & Events on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Finally, if you are looking for professional corporate offerings, we have got you completely covered. Visit our dedicated corporate page to learn about our specially tailored packages, engaging team-building floristry workshops, and upcoming event partnerships. Let Sunflorist & Events bring a vibrant touch of natural beauty and genuine South London soul directly to your next big project.